The Universal Law of Gravitation is important because it explains the fundamental force of attraction between any two objects with mass, including celestial bodies and everyday objects. It explains why the moon orbits the Earth, why planets orbit the sun, and why objects fall to the ground. This law is also crucial for understanding tides, rainfall, and the flow of rivers.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of its importance:
1. Explains Planetary Motion:
The Universal Law of Gravitation explains why planets revolve around the sun, with the sun’s gravity holding them in their orbits.
It also explains why the moon orbits the Earth and how artificial satellites stay in their orbits.
2. Explains Earthly Phenomena:
It explains why objects fall to the ground due to Earth’s gravity, including the motion of objects like apples falling from trees, according to Newton’s original observations.
It helps explain tides, which are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the Earth.
It also explains phenomena like rainfall, snowfall, and the flow of water in rivers on Earth.
3. Underpins Astronomical Calculations:
The law of universal gravitation is used to calculate the mass of stars based on the orbital speeds and masses of their orbiting planets. 4. It’s a fundamental tool for studying the universe and understanding the dynamics of celestial bodies.